932 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. 



on the following morning, and I at once proceeded to the harbor to 

 see what assistance couloT be given in the case, when I met Captain 

 Thornborne, of the Neskilita, and Captain Jacobs in company, and 

 was informed by the latter that the crew were on board his vessel, 

 and assured that everything that could be done for their comfort had 

 been done. I was also given to understand that during the night the 

 crew had abandoned their schooner and come in the harbor unassisted 

 in their seine-boat, and boarded a Nova Scotia schooner lying in the 

 harbor, and were the next morning invited by Captain Jacobs to 

 make his vessel their home. I was also informed by Captain Mc- 

 Laren, commander of the Canadian cruiser Critic, that he also ten- 

 dered his assistance, and was rather haughtily received by Captain 

 Jacobs with the information that the crew were aboard his vessel and 

 that he (Captain McLaren) did not think the case demanded him to 

 force his assistance. 



With regard to the wrecked material aboard of Captain Jacobs's 

 vessel, I have only to say that this is the first intimation I have ever 

 had of such material being aboard his vessel, except the crew's lug- 

 gage, and that assuredly Captain Jacobs did not, so far as I can 

 recollect, make any request of me whatever with regard to the landing 

 of wrecked material. 



With reference to the saving of material from the wrecked vessel, 

 I would wish to say that I rendered the captain of the Nesldlita all 

 necessary assistance in procuring suitable men to do that work (and 

 who were thus employed by him), and although I am aware that 

 Captain Jacobs did accompany the captain of the Nesldlita to the 

 wreck, I can not say in what capacity or under what authority he 

 did so. 



So far as the assertion that the crew received the means to take them 

 home from Captain Jacobs is concerned, I know nothing positive, 

 except that he (Captain Jacobs) asked me if the Canadian Govern- 

 ment would remunerate him for his attention to the crew, and feeling 

 that I had nothing to do with him, I merely replied that I did not 

 know. But I may say that shortly after the wreck occurred the cap- 

 tain of the Neskilita asked me if 1 could render them (the crew) any 

 assistance in getting home, and I answered that I could not unless I 

 was assured that they themselves were without the means of doing so, 

 and that in any case I would have to telegraph to the department at 

 Ottawa for instructions. Here the matter stopped, the captain mak- 

 ing no further application. 



With regard to the delay of ten days, said to be occasioned (Captain 

 Jacobs) by reason of the shipwrecked crew, I may say that during the 

 ten or fourteen days following on the said shipwreck we had an almost 

 continuous period of stormy weather, with the exception of a couple 

 or so of fine days, which were taken advantage of by the fishing fleet, 

 and one at least by Captain Jacobs himself, but by all reports received 

 by me resulting in little or no catches of mackerel. 



These, so far as I can now recall them to memory, are the true facts 

 in the case. 



I am, etc., JAMES McNurr, 



